BACKGROUND: It has been generally accepted that Cisapride (Prepulsid?or propulsid?), a widely used gastrointestinal prokinetic agent, is associated with Torsades de Points, a life-threatening arrhythmia. Recently, cisapride-induced APD (action potential duration)-prolongation was inhibited by glibenclamide, a KATP channel blocker. But the direct effect of cisapride on K(ATP) channels has not been studied until now. Therefore, we investigated cisapride's effects on KATP channels of isolated rat ventricular myocytes. METHODS: After the isolation of rat ventricular myocytes, we analysed the single channel current with patch pipettes. The method of analysis was the student t-test. RESULTS: 1) Cisapride (10(-6) M- 10(-4) M) inhibited KATP channel opening without changing channel conductance Ki was about 20micronM, and Hill coefficient was 0.75. 2) Cisapride inhibited pinacidil-induced KATP channel opening in the cell attached mode. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that cisapride-induced APD prolongation and arrythmic effects may be partly related to KATP channel inhibition.
Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Cisapride* ; Glyburide ; Humans ; KATP Channels ; Muscle Cells ; Rats

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Nodule*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans

No abstract available.
Aging* ; Erythrocytes* ; Humans ; Lipid Peroxidation*

The association between non-islet cell tumors and fasting hypoglycemia has been recognized since 1929. The humoral mediator of this non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia(NICTH) is now known as IGF-II. Hypoglycemia develops commonly in the course of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), mostly late in the course and usually mild to moderate in severity. Rarely, severe hypoglycemia occurs early in the course of HCC, suggesting NICTH. We report a case of HCC in which hypoglycemic coma due to NICTH was the presenting symptom.A 52-year-old man developed mental confusion and seizures in the early morning. At emergency room, he was found to have severe hypoglycemia. Circulating levels of insulin, C-peptide, insulinlike growth factor-I(IGF-I) and growth hormone were reduced during hypoglycemia. Diagnostic work-up revealed that he had unresectable HCC. During admission, infusion of more than 400g of dextrose per day in addition to meals was required to prevent hypoglycemia. Because the chemotherapy was refused, he was transferred to a local hospital to receive infusions of dextrose.
Adenoma, Islet Cell ; C-Peptide ; Coma ; Drug Therapy ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Glucose ; Growth Hormone ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; Islets of Langerhans ; Meals ; Middle Aged ; Seizures

BACKGROUND: Since the first introduction of radioimmunoassay for the quantification of the thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH), more advanced analytical methods have been developed and used in laboratories. However, they are still inconvenient in that they require time-consuming procedures, special safety in handling isotopes, expensive equipment, and a highly qualified expert. METHODS: As an immunoassay system for the rapid measurement of TSH in serum, we have developed a new analytical system based on immunochromatographic assay with fluorescencelabeled anti-TSH monoclonal antibodies. The assay system is composed of a test strip housed within a cartridge and a laser-fluorescence scanner for quantification. The strip contains a sample pad, an absorption pad, and a nitrocellulose membrane where a captured antibody is immobilized and antigen-antibody reaction occurs. Fifty microL of serum was added to 50 microL of a detector solution and the mixture was loaded onto the well of the sample pad on the cartridge. After incubation for 12 min, the cartridge was quantified with the laser-fluorescence scanner. RESULTS: The calibration curve displayed linearity (R=0.95) at concentrations of 1-40 mIU/L. Intraand inter-assay imprecisions were determined to be CVs within 10%. Analytical recovery was 93.9% at 3 different concentrations and the detection limit was 0.868 mIU/L of TSH. The new assay system correlated well with an Abbott AxSYM for quantification of TSH (R=0.97, slope 0.94, N=20). CONCLUSIONS: The TSH measurement system developed in this study showed good reproducibility. However, our TSH quantification system needs some improvement to be used in the medical field because of its low analytical sensitivity. With enhanced performance in analytical sensitivity, introduction of a whole-blood type strip, and a more miniaturized fluorescence scanner, we expect the TSH analytical system to be used for point-of-care testing in the near future.
Absorption ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; Calibration ; Collodion ; Fluorescence* ; Immunoassay ; Immunochromatography* ; Isotopes ; Limit of Detection ; Membranes ; Radioimmunoassay ; Thyrotropin*

No abstract available.
Spleen*

To evaluate the reliability of MR imaging in tissue characterization and depiction of tumor boundaries, we performed MR-pathologic correlation using parosteally implanted VX-2 carcinoma in 17 rabbit thighs. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted axial images were obtained 10-30 days after tumor implantation. After the animals were killed, frozen and sectioned along the MR imaging planes, and histopathologic examinaton were done. For accurate MR-pathologic correlation, rabbits were fixed on the cardboard plate to minimize position change during the procedures. Tumor boundaries depicted on MR images were larger than those depicted on the specimen. Small tumors were surrounded by capsule-like loose connective tissue. Loose connective tissue became compact with tumor growth. This connective tissue showed high signal intensity on both T2-weighted and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted images. Muscle atrophy with fatty tissue accumulation around the tumor also contributed to the high signal intensity on MR images. Peritumoral edema and inflammatory reaction were not remarkable. Six of 8 cases with bone marrow fibrosis were detected on MR images. We concluded that peritumoral loose connective tissue and muscle atrophy exaggerated the size of experimentally induced malignant musculoskeletal tumors on MR images.
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Connective Tissue ; Edema ; Gadolinium DTPA ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscular Atrophy ; Primary Myelofibrosis ; Rabbits ; Thigh

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy* ; Ovarian Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: To compare ocular biometry and refractive results measured using conventional applanation ultrasonography and 3 different optical interferometries, Lenstar LS900(R), AL-Scan(R) and OA-2000(R). METHODS: The biometries of 31 cataractous eyes were measured using ultrasonography, Lenstar LS900(R), AL-Scan(R) or OA-2000(R). The axial length, anterior chamber depth and keratometry were measured. The SRK/T formula was used to calculate intraocular lens power. Two months after cataract surgery, the refractive outcome was determined and results from the 4 different biometry methods were compared. RESULTS: Axial lengths were 23.39 +/- 0.95 mm, 23.42 +/- 0.98 mm, 23.43 +/- 0.98 mm and 23.44 +/- 0.98 mm measured using ultrasonography, Lenstar LS900(R), AL-Scan(R) and OA-2000(R), respectively with no statistically significant differences observed (p = 0.996). The anterior chamber depth and keratometry were 3.14 +/- 0.41 mm, 3.10 +/- 0.38 mm and 3.13 +/- 0.39 mm (p = 0.936) and 44.41 +/- 1.52 D, 44.54 +/- 1.57 D and 44.44 +/- 1.52 D (p = 0.937) for Lenstar LS900(R), AL-Scan(R) and OA-2000(R) respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the 3 optical devices. The mean absolute error of the 4 different devices were not statistically significant (p = 0.722). CONCLUSIONS: The ocular biometric measurements and prediction of postoperative refraction using ultrasonography, Lenstar LS900(R), AL-Scan(R) or OA-2000(R) showed no significant differences.
Anterior Chamber ; Biometry ; Cataract ; Interferometry* ; Lenses, Intraocular ; Optical Devices ; Refractive Errors ; Ultrasonography*